Meet Lewi

Lewi Manirumva came to the United States in 2004 and was resettled in Boston, MA. After three months he moved to Cedar Rapids, IA where he graduated high school in 2009. Lewi then earned a track and field scholarship to McNeese State University and completed his bachelor’s degree.

“I arrived in the United States as a refugee, and I have had to experience the struggles refugees face,” Lewi says. Now that Lewi has connected to resources in the community, he feels he can teach refugee families how to access those important resources and share how to become more engaged within the community as well. 

Lewi is currently serving his second RefugeeRISE AmeriCorps term with Eastern Iowa African Diaspora in Cedar Rapids. EIAD is a youth-led organization with a mission to expose the culture and tradition of the African diaspora, and to empower young people to become active community members.